February 17, 2022
Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members,
Please note the following updates regarding 1) masking in our schools, 2) COVID-19 testing, and 3) determining interest in a vaccine clinic.
1) Masking update: On Tuesday afternoon, the Shrewsbury Board of Health voted to keep its masking mandate for all Shrewsbury public and private schools in effect and revisit this at their next meeting on Friday, March 4. Their discussion indicated that before taking action they want to see whether there will be an increase in cases when students return from February school vacation, given that there were sharp increases in cases after both the Thanksgiving and New Year's breaks. The Shrewsbury Board of Health's masking policy supersedes all others. Last evening the School Committee discussed this topic, and they communicated that they will make a determination regarding the district's mask mandate at their next meeting on March 2, after reviewing the case data upon the return from the break. Their discussion indicated that if the case numbers have stabilized, the School Committee is likely to remove the School Department's mandate, allowing our schools to move to optional masking when the Board of Health's mandate is lifted (both mask orders must be lifted for optional masking to begin). Because these mandates remain in effect, all SPS students and staff will continue to be required to wear masks in our schools when we return from the February vacation, and until any action is taken to remove the mandates and move to optional masking. I will provide an update after the School Committee's next meeting.
2) COVID-19 testing over the school vacation: Please note the following important information regarding testing over the February vacation:
- The district's testing center at the Maple Avenue fields will be closed for the vacation
- Those students/staff who are registered and who participate in the weekly rapid test surveillance testing, please take next week's test on Sunday, February 27, the day prior to returning from the break. Students/staff who are not part of the rapid testing program, please consider taking a rapid test that is from another source on the Sunday prior to returning (only those students/staff currently registered in the program received a rapid test kit from school this week).
- We ask that any students/staff who test positive for COVID-19 at any time during vacation to please send an email to your school nurse right away, so that you can receive the proper instructions and the school has notification of the positive case. School nurse emails are found here.
3) Planning for a school-based vaccine clinic: We have the opportunity to provide another school-based vaccine clinic in the near future, likely on a Saturday in March. This clinic will be available to anyone who is interested in getting a first, second, or booster dose of vaccine. In order for us to plan, please complete this short survey to indicate your interest and time preference. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer
Superintendent of Schools